This article analyses the character of XIXth century chilean liberalism. On the one hand, it was successful in placing chilean economy into the world economy of the period and in the modernization of enfraestructure. On the other hand, although there were important improvements related to the institutional framework of economic activities, there were no changes in social structure. In comparative perspective, the author stresses the need to look experiences of the past for better understanding the present.This article analyses the character of XIXth century chilean liberalism. On the one hand, it was successful in placing chilean economy into the world economy of the period and in the modernization of enfraestructure. On the other hand, although there were important improvements related to the institutional framework of economic activities, there were no changes in social structure. In comparative perspective, the author stresses the need to look experiences of the past for better understanding the present.